Hmmmm.....$1 Billion

[Mike.Crump@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php/id;1194359082

Notice the point about the US$ billion in the 3rd statement line....and the
best kept secret in the 4th statement....and the individuality in the 5th
statement....:-)

"Claiming the small and medium-sized business (SMB) market was growing at
more than three times the pace of the enterprise, IBM is keen to expand its
presence in the space, executives said.

"We've got to do better in SMB," vice-president of worldwide systems sales
with IBM's Systems and Technology Group, Emilie McCabe, said. "We are
putting more resources in SMB, sales resources and technical resources."

However, many of those resources will come from outside of the division
selling the Intel-based xSeries. IBM plans to spend US$1 billion over the
next several years reinvigorating its neglected iSeries line of
mini-computers, which have long held a foothold in the mid-market.

"Our partners said that we've got to improve our image in the marketplace,"
general manager of iSeries, Mark Shearer, said. "I have spoken with
hundreds of partners and clients around the world and everyone tells me
that the iSeries is the best kept secret."

One IBM partner was happy to see signs that IBM was reinvesting in iSeries.
"They need to give the brand its individuality back," president and chief
executive officer of iSeries software developer, NewGeneration Software,
Bernard Gough, said."



Michael Crump
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